Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet -1.

N. C. BADER.

CORN HARVESTER.

Ta/162,230. Patented Nov. 3., 1891.

/NVEN TUR W40/MM 6 .75W /c QJ l HTTURNEYE (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. C. BADER. CORN HARVESTER.

No. 462,230. Patented-Nov. 3, 1891.

WMC/16W y /Z/Q By A Mu/@ Mu/y( A TTUHNEYS (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 3.

N. C. BADER.

CORN HARVESTER.

No. 462,230. Patented Nov. 3, 1,891.

WWESSES.' W Nl/grof? v e cwKa/ A By .0f www p6 Afro/mm llivtrnn States Arent OFFICE.

NICHOLAS C. BADER, OF MARITS, OlllO.

CORN-HARVESTER.

CECIFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,230, dated November 3, 1891.

Application iilcd May 2l, 189.0.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

le it known that I, NIoHoLAs C. BADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marits, in the county of Morrow and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of machines for harvesting corn; and the objects of my invention are to provide a device of superior construction by ine-ans of which growing corn may be cut and shocked with rapidity and ease, to provide in connection therewith improved cutters, and to produce other minor iinprovements,which will be more fully set forth hereinafter. rlhese objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig..3 is a detail view showing the car-rope winding-reel and its location. Fig. et is a front end view of the harvester. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the shock-carrying car. Fig. G is a View taken at right angles with Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line Qc :c of Fig. 2. Fig. S is a view in elevation of the shock binder or clutch, showing its position when the shock is inclosed therein; and Fig. 9 is a view of several of the parts separated.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The body of my machine is in the form of a wagon having a low flat bed a and having forward ground-wheels h and rear wheels c. As shown in the drawings, the rear wheels o are fixed upon the ends of an axle d, which is pivotally secured at its center to the bed, as shown at d', and extends transversely across the top of the wagon-bed and passes loosely through elongated staples or keepers e, which project from the top of the bed, one near'each side thereof.

Secured to one of the long sides of the bed a and extending upwardly therefrom is a rack-bar a', curved,as shown,in the arc of a circle. Vith the upwardly-projecting teeth of this rack-bar is made to engage a pawlf, the latter being made to slide vertically in suitable guides formed on the inner sides of the upper portion of a lever-arm g, the lower Serial No. 352,575. (No model.)

end of which is pivotally connected with the side of the wagon and the body of which is in close proximity to the outer side of the rack d. The lever g has pivotally connected with its lower portion the forward end of an arm g', which extends rearwardly and connects with the axle d, as shown. By operating this level' g the axle is swung upon its pivot at the center of the bed and the wagon is guided to the right or left. The forward ground-wheels b are journaled upon the outwardly-projecting ends of an axle b, which is secured to the under side of the forward portion of the bed, the outer ends being` slightly bent up, so that the center of the wheels comes on a line with the bed. Each of the forward wheels l) is provided with a short inwardly-extending hub, which carries a small sprocket-wheel h2 and a large gearwheel o. A crosspiece W is secured to the top of the bed to the rear of the knives, and braces XV extend from its ends, which project beyond the sides of the bed to the ends of the axles-outside of the wheels.

h represents a horizontal shaft which is supported transversely in suitable bearings 7L', which project from the upper side of the bed in front of the forward axle. The ends of this shaft project outwardlyin front of the gear-wheels b3, each of said projecting shaft ends carrying a pinion-wheel h2, which gears with wheel Z13. The shaft 71, is also provided at a point on each side of the center of its length and near the outer side of the bed with abeveled gear-wheel h3. Each of the beveled wheels h3 meshes with a beveled gearwheel 701, mounted upon a short vertical shaft t', wh ich is pivotally su pported above the shaft h in a suitable bearing-piece 7c, which extends forwardly and upwardly from the bed a.

Fixed upon each of the shafts t', above the beveled wheel 7L", is a star-shaped knifeplate 7.5.

m represents a stationary knife-plate, which consists of a fiat metallic strip or plate having its rear portion secured to the upper side m', which are in front of and slightly Abelow the projecting points of the star cutters, as shown. These wings m are provided with forwardly-projecting teeth or points m2, the outer tooth of each wing being of the greatest length and curved outward toward its point. The tooth-wings m are of such height as to come into close proximity to the under side of the star cutters. One edge of each of the star points or cutting-blades of the knife k and that edge of each of the stationary points or teeth m2 toward which s aid star cutters rotate, as hereinafter described, is sharpened.

Supported upon the upper side of the bed a is an oblong frame consisting of four vertical standards fn, two of said standards being located a short distance in rear of star cutters and in close proximity to the sides of the bed and two at the rear corners of the bed, as shown. Each pair of these standards is connected by a suitable top cross-piece n. Side rods n2 are also made to connect the standards of each side, as shown.

orepresents a reel consisting of a cross-rod or shaft, which has projecting therefrom arms o', of the ordinary form, and which carries on each of its ends a small sprocket-wheel o2. This reel is supported at about the height of the standards n and above the knife-plate vand cutters by inclined arms o3, which extend upwardly and forwardly from the bed a, the

reel-shaft being journaled' in the outer end of said' arms o3. The reel sprocket-wheels o2 and the axle sprocket-wheels b2 are connected by an endless Achain belt 07.

` Secured tothe center of the forward frame cross-piece n is the forward end of a trackrod p. This track-rod is bent downward slightly from said frame cross-piece, from which point it extends horizontally rearward and terminates at a point in rear of the rear cross-piece n', as shown. The track-rod is supported in. this position by means of a trussrod p', which has one of its ends connected with the-forward' cross-piece n', its remaining end connected with the outer or rear endv of the'track-rod, and its central and upwardlyinclifn-ed portion supported upona cross-truss p2 which extends between the frame side rods n2.

p3 represents a short horizontal reel-rod, which is j ournaled in suitable bearings formed in the upper portion of one of the rea-r standards n and a second vertical standard p4, which connects the bed and rear cross-rod n a short distance from and parallel with the said rod n. This reel-rod is provided, as shown, with a small' ratchet-wheel p5 on its outer projecting end portion, the teeth of whiclrare adapted to be made to engage with a pawl p6, which ispivoted to the outer side of the standard n.

q`represents a car the frame of which is approximately H-shaped. The upper ends of the upwardly-extending arms of this carframe each carry a grooved track-wheel q.

Said track-wheels bear and run upon the track-rod p, from which said car is'suspended. As shown in the drawings, the H-shaped carframe q is preferably formed of two duplicate plates, and the wheels q are pivoted between said plates. Pivotally supported in the lower end of the rear arm of the frame q is a pulley q2.

' The double connecting or central crossarms of the frame q are provided on their under side with a downwardly-extending tubular arm g3, into the upper end of which and between the frame cross-arm sections is 1nserted loosely a bolt or sliding pin Q4, which is provided in its upper portion with a Vertical slotq5 and a cross-slot Q6. The sliding pin is held in connection with the car-frame by means of a trigger-bar Q7, which has its rear or inner end provided with a short longitudinal slot Q8 and an upwardly-projecting shoulder .orhook Q10, said slotted inner end entering and projecting through the slotted opening Q6 of the bolt, as shown. A connection is formed between the bolt g4, bar Q7, and frame q by a bolt 111-1, which passes throughy said frame and the slots Q5 and qs. Fromv the bolt g4 the trigger-bar extends forwardly between the forward portionsof the frame q, and terminates beyond the forward end of theframe in a U-shaped hook or clutch endl q, as shown. The trigger-arm isffurther connected with the frame q by a transverse bolt Q9 in the forward end portionof said frame, said bolt passing through an upwardly and rearwardly inclined slot Q13, formed in said trigger-bar. The lower portion of the bolt g4 is provided with a vertical slot r, the body of the'bolft being soformed as to produce a wedge-shaped tongue fr, which projects downward therefrom intosaid slot 1'. The tubular arm qs'is provided inn its lower port-ion with two oppositely-located vertical slotsv r2, within each of which is pivoted thel one end of an inwardlyextending and upwardly-curved pawl or tooth These pawlsare of such length-that when in a horizontal position their free ends project through the opposite slots s represents a key or shock-supporter, which consists of a short tubular stem s', which is providedv with a flat shank or lower end s2, said shank beingr preferably formedl of two duplicate plates, between whichy is pivoted a pulley s3. Projecting upwardly from the cenvtery of a cross-piece in7 the tubular stem s is preferably looped at their centers to increase One of the arms t near their spring-power. its upper end has pivoted thereto one end of a rack-bar t4, the free end of which is adapted IOO IIo

.thus formed has attached thereto a suitable ring t1, by means of which it may be permanently connected to the key by passing the bar 36 through it, or thering maybe dispensed with and the free end of the cord can be passed over the bar s before it is hooked into the loop on .the side of the clutch t.

Secured to the lower end of the forward arm of the H-shaped car-frame Q is one end of a rope u. This rope passes under the pulley s3 ot' thekey-shank sfroin whichitpasses over the car-pulley Q2, and thence rearwardly to and over a pulley a5, suspended by ablock from the rear end portion of the track-rod 7 9. From this pulley said cord extends to and is adapted to be wound upon the reel-shaft p3. Secured to the rear end of the trigger-bar Q7 is a cord u', which extends rearwardly above the cord a, passes over a pulley a2 in the extreme rear end ot` the track-mdp, from which point it extends and may be temporarily secured to the frame-work near the reel-shatt.

The herein-described shock-carrying car and its manner of operating is substantially the same as that employed in hay-carriers, and I do not, as will hereinafter be seen, claim as new this portion of the device.

The operation of the hereindescribed device is as follows: Before beginning the operation of cutting and shocking, the car Q is supported, as shown, near the forward end of the track p and the outer clutch end Q11 of the triggerbar Q7 made to grasp or embrace a lug t', tixedon the track p. Then in this position, the trigger-bar is substantially horizontal, as shown, and its shoulder Q10 is engaging with the rear side of the sliding bolt Q4 above the slot Q"l of the latter. The above-mentioned parts being in the position described, it is obvious that the sliding bolt Q4 will have dropped down to its lowest position in the tube Q3. It is further necessary that the shock binder or clutch t be opened out transversely on the bed aMthat is, its rack-bar t"1\vithd1awn from the slotted arm t, the cord t6 disconnected at one end from the arms t', and the said arms t turned on their pivots lf2 and laid crosswise on the wagonbed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In

drivingintothe corn to be cut the horses are so driven as to cause one row ot corn to come into contact with the blades of each of the wings m of the stationary knife-plate, the horses traveling between the corn-rows. The turning of the grou ncl-wheels b, caused bythe forward motion of the device, will result in through the sprocket-wheels b2 and drivechain 01, communicate rotary motion to the reel o. The cornstalks, which enter the V- shaped spaces between the teeth m2, will be quickly and completely severed by the contact therewith ot the sharpened blades 01' points of the rotating star knives 7e. As the corn is cut in this manner the reel-arm 0 will aid in forcing the stalks back onto the bed of the harvester, causing said stalks to fall upon the open clutch. Then sutlicient corn has thus been collected upon said clutch to produce the desired-size shock, the motion of the harvester is stopped, the outer ends of the clutch or binder arms t drawn toward each other, thus clamping within them the corn, the rack-bar t* inserted through the slot ot` the binderarm the desired distance or until the shock is firmly clasped by the binder, and the pawl t5 allowed to drop into engagement with Idie rack t4, thus locking the latter against opening or withdrawal. The loose end of the rope t@ is then hooked into engagement with the binder, as shown in Fig. S. The shock thus closed by the binder is suspended from the car Q by elevating the clutch. New as the clutch is raised upward the tubular stem of the key s will surround the tubular arm Q3 of the earframe, as shown in Figs. 5 and G of the drawings. As the arm Q3 is located at equal distances from the lower points of the frame and as the key is raised by the rope, its weight will keep it midway between said points or in a line with the arm, and as the stem s is made large enough it will readily pass up around the arm Q3. In this last operation the internal key-pin s1, by coming into contact with the lower end of the sliding bolt Q1, drives the latter upward and presses the pointed ends of the pawls r3, which will cause them to engage with the outside of the upper solid wall portion of the key-stein, and thus support the said key in position as soon as the bolt is locked. The elevation of the bolt Q4 will operate to release the shoulder Q10 otthe trigger-bar Q7 from contact with the bolt Qi, and the draft upon the rope u will cause the car to start to the rear of the harvester. This will cause the pin Qq to slide up the inclined slot Q13 of the trigger-bar, which will force the clutch end Q11 down out of engagement with the catch fr and will release the car, the enlarged end of the trigger-bar in the meantime being drawn in under the top of the bolt Q1, which is thereby locked against downward movement, which, if permitted, would release the key. The car with the shock suspended therefrom, as above described, may then be drawn to the rear on the IOO IIO

track by turning the reel-shaft p3 to wind thereon the cord u. This taking up of the cord fu, will operate to pull the car to the desired point in rear of the body of the harvester, in which point the shock may belowered to the ground by pulling upon the cord u,which will result in the rearward movement of the trigger-bang?. This movement of said trigger-bar drives the enlarged rear end of said bar from its position in the slot q and allows the head of the bolt Q4 to drop down and rest upon the main body of the trigger-bar. This downward movement of the bolt g4 Will release the pawls r3 from the pressure of the lower end of the bolt Q4 and result in their points dropping inward sufiibinder may then bev unclasped by disengaglrng the pawl t and rack 4 and the parts caused again to assume the positions seen in Figs. l and'2of the drawings. From the construction herein described itwill be seen that the rapid rotation of the sharpened starknived points or blades will cause, in connection with the stationary sharpened points m2, a rapid and complete severing of the stalks.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the running-gears, a corn-cutting mechanism supported from the forward portion of the bed, a rearwardly-extending track-rod p, supported above the harvester-bed, as described, a car q, runningand supported on said track, and means for moving said car on said track, of a shock binder or clutch t, consisting, as described, of two hinged spring-arms t t',

`jointedly connected with an intermediate arm 153, a rack-bar t4, pivoted at the end to one of the arms t' and passing through a slot in the other armv t', and means for supporting said binder from said car,substantially as set forth. 5o

NCHOLAS G. BADER. In presence of- H. C.Y LYMAN, W. J. EWERS. 

